( VI ) 
STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH. 
1st Quarter. — The total number of deaths in the quarter was 112,384 
against 101,232 and 92,225 in the two previous summer quarters. 
In the same quarter of 1860 it was only 8G,312 ; and if last summer 
had been as healthy, at least 23,000 persons would have been- living 
when autumn came whose deaths had then been registered. The 
annual rate of mortality in the quarter was 2*1 66 per cent, of the 
population, against the summer average of 1*982 per cent. In the 
country districts the mortality was 1*864- (the average being 1*694) ; 
whilst in urban populations it was 2*404 (the average being 2*329). 
2nd Quarter. — The number of deaths in the three months ending 
3 1st December was 116,299. The death-rate was 2*226 per cent, 
(against an average of 2*178).' In the principal towns the rate of 
mortality was 2*46 per cent, (about the average) ; and in the small 
towns and country parishes 1*94 per cent, (or rather above the 
average). 475,582 deaths were registered in the year, the mortality 
being at the rate of 2*314 per cent, against 2*211, the average of the 
previous ten years. 
PEICE OF PEOVISIONS. 
1st Quarter. — The average price of wheat was 45s. Id. per quarter, 
which is less than at any other time since March, 1860 ; in the Sep- 
tember quarter of last year the price was 56s. lOd. The average of 
the highest and lowest prices of beef at Leadenhall and Newgate 
Markets was 5%d. per lb., and of mutton bid. Best potatoes ranged 
from 70s. to 105s. per ton at the Waterside Market, South wark ; 
they were cheaper than they had been at the same place at any 
previous time since the same quarter of 1859. 
2nd Quarter. — The average price of wheat in the three months 
was 40s. 6d. per quarter, which is less by 18s. 9d. than in the corre- 
sponding period of 1861, and less by 7s. 8d. than in that of 1862. 
The average price of beef at Leadenhall and Newgate Markets was 
b%d. per lb., mutton 6d. ; both being the same as in the correspond- 
ing quarter of 1862. The average price of the best potatoes at the 
Waterside Market was 70s. per ton, which is less by 30s. than it 
was in the last quarter of the previous year. 
